Plasmonic TiN nanobelts assisted broad spectrum photocatalytic H2 generation

Abstract

The conversion of solar energy in a wide spectrum region to clean fuel, H2, remains a challenge in the field of photocatalysis. Herein, plasmonic TiN nanobelts, as a novel cocatalyst, were coupled with CdS nanoparticles to construct a 0D/1D CdS/TiN heterojunction. Utilization of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect generated from TiN nanobelts was effective in promoting light absorption in the near-infrared region, accelerating charge separation, and generating hot electrons, which can effectively improve the photocatalytic H2 generation activity of the 0D/1D CdS/TiN heterojunction over a wide spectral range. Furthermore, owing to the high metallicity and low work function, an ohmic-junction was formed between the CdS and TiN, favoring the transfer of hot electrons generated from TiN nanobelts the CdS nanoparticles, followed by the reaction with water to generate H2. Consequently, the 0D/1D CdS/TiN heterojunction demonstrated H2 generation activity even under light irradiation at 760 nm, while the pure CdS and Pt nanoparticles modified CdS presented no activity. This work opens a new insight into coupling plasmonic cocatalysts to realize full spectrum H2 production.